Show LOSSES THROUGH SWINE DISEASES Cholera Tuberculosis and Parasites Parasites Parasites Para Para- sites Are Drawbacks SIMPLE METHODS ARE URGED t Farmer May Avoid to Large Extent Decimation of His Herd by Epi Epi- Sanitary Sanitary Preventive J Measures Are Arc Favored Hog cholera and swine plague both highly fatal diseases characterized by fever and heavy mortality are so very similar that the breeder may regard them as ns identical so far as his practical practical management of the herd Is con con- Positive differentiation between between between be be- tween the two diseases can only be he made b by the time most careful bacteriological teal ical tests and by y employing the assistance assistance assistance as as- offered by a n fully equipped laboratory However sanitary preventive preventive preventive pre pre- methods which are found beneficial beneficial bene bene- with one of these diseases will prove equally efficacious with U the e other There rc are a n few fundamental facts fact which the breeder must remember If he Is to avoid losses through hog cholera cholera cholera chol- chol era or swine plague The first Is that they are specific diseases caused by germs and the contagion cannot be spread from one animal to another or from one herd to another except through the agency of these minute or or- They may be carried In a n multitude of ways by ways by the hogs themselves themselves themselves them them- selves on the clothing of persons on vehicles In feed by birds dogs and other animals or by streams The breeding or feed of a hog cannot cause either disease although bad methods may so 80 weaken the constitution and vi vitality vitality vi- vi that the animal becomes more susceptible to them than would otherwise otherwise otherwise other other- wise be the case Since these diseases diseases diseases dis dis- eases can only arise from the presence presence presence pres pres- ence of these specific causative agents It can readily be seen that dentition and the presence of supernumerary teeth or black tusks cannot as has been su suggested b by many play pIny any part In their development A second fact to be borne In mind Is that diseases diseases diseases dis dis- eases caused by germs may be best prevented or controlled by thorough and scrupulous ness Tuberculosis Increasing Tuberculosis Is rapidly Increasing among hogs In the United States and every owner of swine should be on his guard against the Introduction of this serious malady upon his premises Unlike hog cholera this disease Is In- In In Its attack and slow in its It development development de de- de- de sp sq that It may be present for Cor months in a n herd without exciting the least suspicion of the owner and ond will be revealed to him only at the time of slaughter Until recent years tuberculosis has hns been look looked d upon upon-as upon as ns of uncommon occurrence and only of Importance from a meat Inspection standpoint but today It must be recognized recognized recognized rec rec- as a n serious menace to the owner of hogs and especially to the theODe theone theone one ODe who allows his ills hogs to run with cattle that have not been proved to be befree befree befree free of tuberculosis or who feeds them upon products as ns part of their ration As tuberculosis of hogs Is chiefly contracted through eating eating eat eat- ing ng Infected feed the Importance of this statement Is obvious Tuberculosis of hogs Is closely associated as ns- associated with the same disease In cattle cattle cattle cat cat- tle the reason being apparent when one one considers the close relations of these two species of animals upon nc nearly arly every farm cattle cat cat- cattle tle tIc may scatter great grent numbers of tubercle tubercle tubercle tu- tu bacilli with their excrement cows cotes that are may produce produce produce pro pro- duce contaminated milk that Is subsequently subsequently sub sub- fed to pigs and carcasses of cattle that have died from tuberculosis tuberculosis tuber tuber- are sometimes eaten by hogs Any of these conditions make the Infection Infection infection In In- with tuberculosis of tho hogs concerned a n very easy matter Sources of Infection The feeding of hogs upon creamery refuse Is also ulso a ver very frequent source of Infection In this way the milk of ofa a n single cow with n a udder ud ud- der cler If It sent to a public creamer creamery may spread the disease to a n number o oho ho hogs s. s and may also ulso Infect many matey farms that have never previously been contaminated con con- ted with tuberculosis An equa equally dangerous source of Infection Infection infection In In- Is likewise observed In the methods which obtain among some of the small country slaughter houses It Is not unusual for these houses to get rid of their blood bool Intestines viscera vis vIs- vis- vis cera cern and other Ine inedible parts by feedIng feedIng feeding feed- feed Ing them to hogs a herd of which Is usually kept on the premises This custom Is pregnant with danger and serves to perpetuate the Infection principle principle principle prin prin- ciple of various contagious and parasitic porn para Si glUc tic diseases particularly sis Hogs Bogs are also susceptible to tuber tuber- culous Infection from affected persons persons persons per per- sons and poultry but these sources ore are undoubtedly of far fur less moment to the hog owner than those existing ina In Ina Inn a n herd of cattle Intestinal worms lung worms an anskin and skin parasites also levy n a burdensome tax upon the profits of hog raising Absolute cleanliness will be found valuable val val- In preventing pre and controlling these parasitic troubles as well as ns the themore themore themore more serious diseases hog diseases hog cholera and tuberculosis Prevention of Disease In dealing with the diseases of hogs hOg preventive measures must be most relied relied relied re re- rei re- i lied upon The animals must be given I dry and well ventilated quarters which must he be kept ept clean cleM Contrary to common common common com com- mon belief hogs have some habits which raise them above other domestic domes domes- tic animals from Crom the standpoint of cleanliness For lor example unless compelled to do so a n hog will net sleep In its own filth If a ft part of the floor of the pen Is raised and kept well bedded with straw while the rest Is not all an excrement will be left on the ed portion of the floor and the bed Itself will be always clean In addition to cleanliness close attention attention at at- should should should-be be given Iven to the feed so that nothing may be fed that will convey convey convey con con- vey the germs of disease especially tuberculosis to the herd If the hogs are fed milk In any form obtained obtained ob ob- from cows kept upon the same farm the cows should be subjected to the tuberculin test If they run with the dairy dahy cattle of the farm a n tuberculin lin tin test of all nn the cattle Is none the less Jess desirable Animals dead ead from any disease should not be fed to the hogs until the meat has been made safe by cooking Skim milk or refuse from a public creamery should not be fed to hogs until It has hns been thoroughly thoroughly thorough thorough- ly sterilized Feeding and drinking places should be he clean and the water supply pure Unless the origin Is known to be uncontaminated uncontaminated un- un contaminated and there has hns been no possibility of Infection during Its Us course hogs should not be allowed access access access ac ac- ac- ac cess to any stream Wallows should be drained out an and kept filled up tip p as ns much as possible At least once a month the quarters should be dIsInfected disinfected disinfected with slaked air lime or a n five per cent solution of crude carbolic acid These precautions will be found valuable aids In the destruction of the various animal parasites Advantage of Isolated Hog Houses The advantage of Isolated Isolate hog hob houses each accommodating a u few hogs rather than one une large for the entire herd has been referred to previously In districts where cholera Is prevalent these are undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly edly the best shelters They make It more difficult to carr carry contagion to all animals In the herd and the destruction destruction destruction tion of one of them In case of an outbreak outbreak outbreak out out- break does not entail a n great grent expense An added advantage Is that th they y may maybe maybe be moved from place to place as nee need need- ed cd While more work Is necessary in iu feeding the convenience and safety from their use more than offset this disadvantage |